The UT Permian Basin baseball team will have a tough opponent when they open the season tomorrow (Jan. 30) as they will take on the No. 2 in the nation Angelo State in a four-game series.
 
While the 2024 season was a historic season for the Falcons - who won 35 games overall (35-25), their most wins since 2010, finished fourth in the LSC with a record of 28-20, and won a game in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history - all of that is in the past as they enter the 2025 season with a new head coach (Justin Phillips) and a roster full of players who weren't at UTPB in 2024.   

One may think Coach Phillips and the players may feel some pressure to duplicate the success they had last season. But that is not the case.

"I think for us it's no pressure, because everything is new. Our team is new, our coaching staff is new so I think the idea of pressure is not a thing. I think we have enough leadership that helps with that not being a problem for us, specifically our senior leadership and a couple new guys that stepped right into those roles," said Head Coach Justin Phillips. "So I really think that we are going to be in a position to compete at a high level. What that looks like for the first couple weeks will be determined on how we respond through adversity."
 
The Falcons had Angelo State number last season, winning three of five games. There most recent win against the Rams came in the Lone Star Championship tournament, where UTPB earned a 3-0 victory. Prior to that the Falcons were 32-1 all time against Angelo State. Additionally, the Rams are currently 18-1 overall at home against UTPB and average 10.72 runs per game against the Falcons.
Angelo State wrapped up the 2024 season with a 44-21 overall record, 32-16 in LSC play and earned their second National Championship appearance - the first team since 2007 to accomplish that feat. The Falcons enter the season projected to make the Lone Star Conference (LSC) tournament, finish in seventh place according to the 2025 LSC preseason poll and had two players – Trevor Barth and Kaleb Scull - named to the LSC Players to Watch.

Barth is a senior right-handed pitcher from Beaverton, Oregon, set to embark upon his third season in a Falcon uniform. He finished the 2024 season 6-5 overall with a 5.57 earned run average across 17 appearances, 15 starts and 84.0 innings. Barth threw seven shutout innings and allowed just five hits as UTPB eliminated No. 18 and defending national champion Angelo State 3-0 during the Lone Star Conference Championships last season.

Scull is a senior shortstop from Lubbock, Texas. He is transferring to UTPB from Wheeling University (W.Va.) where he started in 50 games and hit .260 with 31 runs, 39 hits, 10 doubles, three home runs, 27 runs batted in, 19 walks, and seven stolen bases. He also a had a .950 fielding percentage on 180 chances and helped turn 21 double plays.
  Recently, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association released its 2025 Regional Preseason Poll with The University of Texas Permian Basin baseball team selected sixth in the South Central Region to begin the season. In addition, second baseman Carson Johnson was named to the NCBWA Preseason All-South Central Region team.

The NCBWA Preseason All-South Central Region team was voted on by a committee of eight members with four representing each the Lone Star Con ference and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) respectively.

Johnson is coming off a 2024 season in which he was named second-team all-conference for the second straight season. Johnson hit .316 with 52 runs scored, 56 hits, 10 doubles, eight triples, five home runs, 46 runs batted in, 26 walks and nine stolen bases. He also a had a .975 fielding percentage on 276 chances and helped turn 35 double plays.

In addition to Johnson, UTPB players to keep an eye on this season include: Trevor Barth, Bryan Adams, Nolan LaChappa, Jack Haggerty, Taylor McDaniel, and Kaleb Scull.

UTPB will open the season at Angelo State on Friday, January 31, at Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium.